Wire-stretcher.



J. FISHER.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED M0116, 1910.

Patented Max:126, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

v ATTORNEY .L- FISHER. WIRE STRETGHER. ABPLIOAIION FILLED DEO.16 1910.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTO RN EY WITNESSES To all whom it may concern:

zen of the United States, residing at Roann,

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

" moon FISHER, or noun} INDIANA.

wren-srnnroman.

'Be it known that I, JACOB Flame, :1. citiin the county of Wabash and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

The object of thepresent inve'ntion'is to improve the construction of wire stretchers,

. and to provide a simple, efficient and com- 'paratively inexpensive wire stretcher, dcsigned for stretching barbed or smooth wire and also woven wire fencing, and adapted to draw the endsof a brokenwire together in overlapped relationand to hold the same while they are being s liced.

A'further object 0 the invention is to provide a wire stretcher ofthis character, adapted also for pulling trees and stumps, and capable of use as. a lifting jack for raising heavy machines, houses and various other loads.

With these and other objects .in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel .combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor detailsof construction, within the scope of the claims,'may be resorted to without departing from thes irit or sacrificing any of the advantages 0 the invention.

In thedrawings:Figure 1 is a 'side,ele- I vation of a wire stretcher, constructed 1n accordance with this invention and shownarranged for stretching a slngle wire. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same,

.the parts being arranged for splicing a broken wire. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the wire stretcher, showing the same arranged for stretching woven wire fencing, or other heavy pulling operation.

. Fig. 11s 'a side elevation, the parts being arranged for use as a lifting jack. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig- 1. Fig. 6 is a similar view onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7'7 of- .Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on the 'of themovable wire crimping aw or member. Fig. 14 is a detail view of the combined handle and wire twister. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a ratchet device for rotating the nut. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 17 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

drawings. a In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the'invention, 1 designatesa longitudinal threaded bar or screw, having its end 2 flattened and provided with an openingfor the reception of a bolt or pin 3 for securing a shoe 4 to the screw. The other end of the screw receives Specification of Letters Patent. Q Patented Mar. 26, 1912. Application filed December -16, 1910. Serial' No. 597,689.

5 Like numerals of reference designate cori'espondingparts in all thefigures ofthe an interiorly threaded anchoring sleeve 5,

havingathreaded perforation to receive a set screw 6, which secures the sleeve rigidly to the screw. The opening of the sleeve is closed at the outer end, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the anchoring sleeve is provided witha web or flange 7, extending outwardly from the outer end of the sleeve .5 and one side thereof. The flange is rounded at the outer end of the sleeve, and is provided thereat with a erforation 8 to receive the pin or pivot 3 or securing the shoe to the anchoring sleeve when arranging the parts to form a lifting jack, as'hereinafter fully explained. The laterally project-ing portion of the web 7 is provided with a chain opening 9, adapted to receive an anchoring chain 10, which is designed to be'looped around a post 11, or other suitable means for securing pro ecting laterally from r the wire stretcher to the same. The chain ally projecting portion withribs 12, adapted to engage the contiguousv ends of the two spaced links of the anchoring chains 10 to' prevent the screw from twisting when considerable force is exerted in rotating a nut 13 for stretching a fence wire or woven wire fencing, or for any other pulling or stretching operation. 1

The nut 13, which has interior screw threads to engage the threads of the screw 1, is provided with a smooth extension 14, having an annular flange 15 at its outer end and engaging a grooved segmental portion 16 of a slidable sleeve or carrier 17 to form a separable swivel connection. The nut, which is adapted to be rotated for moving the sleeve longitudinally of the screw, is

equipped wit-h a plurality of radially arranged lugs 17, having transverse openlngs 18 for the reception of a bar or lever 19, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings for enabling the nut to be readily rotated with sufficient power to operate the wire stretcher in its various uses. The extension 14 and the flange 15 form a head, which is swiveled to the sleeve by means of the segmental portion 16, which is provided with an interior groove 20, arranged concentric wit-h the screw and receiving the flange 15. 1

The sleeve or carrier, which has a smooth opening to receive the screw 1, is provided in one of the end walls of such opening with alongitudinal recess 21, receiving a key 22, which fits against a flat face 23 of the screw 1. The flat face is arranged at the bottom of the screw, and the key prevents the sleeve or carrier from rotating around the screwwith the nut, but the sleeve or carrier is permitted to slide along the screw when the nut is rotated. Any. other suitable means may be employed for rotating the screw, and in Figs. 15 to 17 inclusive is illustrated a ratchet device for this purpose. The ratchet device comprises a sectional casing 24, split transversely and provided in its inner transverse faces with corresponding recesses and projecting portions 25 and 26 to form an interlocking connection between the sections. The casing is provided with a circular opening 27 receiving the nut 28 and being of a diameter in excess of the flange 29 thereof. The nut is provided at its inner end with a flange 30 of greater diameter than the opening 27, andthe casing is retained on the nut between the flange 30 and the slidable sleeve or carrier. Mounted within the casing are opposite pawls 31, pivoted at an intermediate point to the casing by bolts 32, which pierce the sections of the casing and secure the same together. The pawls have inner engagingportions, and the nut is provided with an annular series of recesses, adapted to receive the engaging portions of the pawls. The inner portions of the pawls are connected by a coiled spring 34, adapted to hold either pawl in engagement with the nut, and the outer portions of the pawls are casing is oscillated to rotate the nut continuously in one direction, and when the casing is swung to the left in Fig. 17 of the drawings, the operative pawl engages the shoulder of one of the recesses and holds the nut rigid with' the casing and thereby effects a partial rotary movement of the nut. When the casing is swung to the right, the spring permits the engagingportion of the pawl to yield, and the pawl slides over the nut without rotating the same. The casing is provided with a socket 37, adapted to receive a rod or level" 38,'as illustrated in Fig. 15 of the drawings.

The slidable sleeve or carrier is provided at one side with a laterally projecting arm 39, forming a lifting head and tapered toward its outer end 40, which is slightly upturned when the screw is arranged man upright position to form a lifting jack, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The

arm 39 when in this position has a flat up- 39 is also provided with an opening 39", ex-

tending entirely through the arm and arranged in parallelism with the screw and adapted to receive the bar or lever 19. The bar or lever 19 is inserted in the opening 39* of the arm, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and its lower end rests upon one of the projecting portions of the shoe. readily carried fromone point or place to another. The slidable sleeve or carrier is provided at a point diametrically opposite the arm with a laterally projecting lug 41, having a wire receiving crimping recess 42 in its outer end and cooperating with a crimping 'plate or jaw 43, mounted in a separable clevis section 44, secured to the slidable sleeve or carrier by a bolt 45, which pierces the clevis section and the lug 41.-

'head of the nut. Th'e spaced sides .of the clevis member are provided at their outer ends with projecting cars 48, having alined perforations for the reception of a bolt 49 for adjustably securing a chain ,50 to the clevis member. The bolt-49 passes through This will enable the device to be the perforations of the ears and through one of the links of the chain 50, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

One of the sides of the .clevis member is provided adjacent to the segmental portion 46 with an approximately L-shaped arm' 51, having its outer'portion extending across the space between, the sides of the clevis key 55. The wire crimping jaw or member is provided at'theother end with an oil'- set handle portion 56, and it has a wire crimping rib 57, arranged at an intermediate point between the ends of the-wire crimping jaw andlocated opposite the wire crimping recess 42 and cooperating there- ,with to crimp a wire, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The screw 52 is provided with an eye and is adapted to re-' ceive a suitable tool for enabling it to be screwed inwardly with suflicient force to crimp the wire, whereby the latter will be effectually prevented from slippingin the zlevis section. The inner engaging end of the screw is tapered'for engaging the clamping plate or jaw and any rocking movement of the'same incident to the crimping of the wire will not produce any lateral strain on the adjusting screw 52. a v

The shoe 4, which is adapted to extend across the ends of the screw 1, consists of a fiat plate provided at one of its end portions with a socket 58, open at one end and formed by similar side flanges 59 and a connecting transverseend wall 60. The side flanges are provided atthe socket with alined perforations to receive the pivot bolt 3, and they have curved diverging outer portions or extensions 61, provided with alined perforations 62 for the reception of a bolt or pin 63 for securing the chain 50 to the shoe. The shoe is provided beyond the socket 58 with a chain opening 64,. having top, bottom and side notches and adapted to permit the links of the chain 50 to pass through it when the chain is drawn along the screw through the operation of the nut in the slidable carrier. The bolt or pin 63 is adapted to secure the chain 50 to the shoe after the carrier is movedinwardly to the limit of its movement, and the chain 50 is thereby held while the nut and the carrier are moved outwardly on the screw 1 preparatory to another stretching operation. The shoe is provided at itsother end portion with a substantially U-shaped casing 65, having inner and outer transverse portions and a longitudinal connecting portion. The inner portion of the casing is provided with a wire crimping recess 66,. which co: operates with a wire crimping rib 67 of a plate or jaw 68, constructed similar to the plate or jaw 43 heretofore described, and having -its reduced portion operating in' a slot- 69 of the longitudinal portion of the U- shaped casing 65. The outer transverse portion of the U-shaped casing is provided with a threaded perforation 70 for the reception of an adjusting screw 71, which engages the w1re crimping plate or jaw 68.

The bottom plate'or body of the shoe is provided adjacent to the inner transverse.

portion of the casing 65 with a slot 72 the passage of the wire- When the parts are arranged'to form a lifting jack, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the

for

screw 1 is arranged in an upright position with the'- anchoring sleeve 5 at the lower end thereof, and the shoe is pivoted to the rounded end portion of the web 7 of the anchoring sleeve, and the pivotal connection between the shoe and the screw is adapted to permit the former to conform to the-con? figuration of the ground, or other supportmg surface and to assume either a horizontal or inclined posit-ion while the screw remains in a vertical position andwithout straining the latter, or the means for conmeeting the shoe with the same, as would be the case were the shoe rigid with the lower end of the screw. The nut is adapted to be rotated to slide the sleeve or carrier ups wardly or downwardly, and the upper end of the screw is equipped with a handle 73,

extending laterally from the flattened end- 2 of the screw 1, and provided with a rectangular opening 74 conforming to the configuration of the flattenedend 2, which is provided with flat. side faces and straight side edges. The handle is detachably retained on the upper end of the screw 1 by means of a suitable key 75, and it enables the "1 lifting jack to be conveniently carried and handled in placing it in position for a lifting operation and in removing it from the machine, or other object operated on.

When it is desired to stretch a single wire 76, the parts are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings with the sleeve 5 anchored to the post 11. The shoe is arranged at the other end of the screw with the crimping device in line with thecrimping device of the clevis section. The wire is first engaged by the crimping device of the clevis section to connect it with the slidable sleeve or carrier, and the n'utis then operated to move the slidable sleeve or'carrier along the screw for stretching the wire 76. After the slidable sleeve or carrier has reached the limit of its stretching'movement, the wire 7 6, which extends through the slot 72 of the. shoe, is gripped by the crimping device,"which holds the wire whilethe slidable carrieris being returned to the outer or front end of the screw for another stretching operation. The alternate stretch- 1 ing and holding of the wire may be re eated illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the slidable carrier, which has been preferably arranged at the inner or rear portion of the screw, is moved forwardly toward the shoe, thereby drawing the end portions 77 and 78 of the broken wire together until they are stretched and overlapped. The overlapped end portions of the wire are then gripped by a pair of pliers 79, which holds them in their overlapped relation and in position for splicing. he splicing op; eration is effected by means of the handle 73, which is provided at its inner end with a slot 79, having inner opposite bearing portions and adapted to permit the handle to straddle the wire and tobe rotated thereon. The handle is provided at one of its faces with spaced projecting headed studs,

preferably formed by screws 80 and adapted to receive the terminal portion of the wire between them, whereby the handle is adapted to be rotated for coiling or wrapping the free terminal portion of each of the wires 77 and 78 around the body portion of the other. Each free terminal portion of the wire may be coiled in this manner to form a telegraph splice, but the wires may be secured together in any other suitable manner, as will be readily understood. In this use of the device, the anchoring chain 10 is of course detached. In practice the anchoring chainmay consist of a short chain, provided at one end with a hook (not shown) for enabling it to be adjusted to form a loop of any size within its capacity.

When it is desired to stretch woven wire fencing, or to perform any other heavy pulling or stretching operation, the inner or rear end of the shoe is anchored, and the shoe 1s reversed to arrange 1ts chain openlng in alinement with the olevis section, and the chain 50, which is passed through the chain opening 64, is securedto the clevis section eration. This would have a tendency todraw downward slightly on the screw and upward on the clevis section, thereby holding 'the latter firmly against the sliding sleeve or carrier. 'The slidable carrier is then moved inwardly along the screw to the inner or rear end thereof, and the chain'50 is then secured to the shoe by means of the bolt 63 to hold the chain while the slidable sleeve or carrier is bein returned to the front or outer portion 0 the screw 1 for another stretchln o eration. The shoe,

when connected with t e front or outer end of the screw, is rigid therewith, one of the straight side edges of the flattened end 2 of the screw being fitted against the transverse end wall of the socket or recess of the s 0e.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combined wire stretcher and lifting jack'including' a bar, an anchoring sleeve se-- cured to one end of the bar, a carrier slidable along the bar and havingalifting head, means for. moving the carrier along the bar, means mounted on the carrier for connecting the same with a wire or other part toxbe stretched, a shoe, and means for pivotally connecting the shoe with the anchoring sleeve to form a support for the bar when the device is used as a lifting jack and for securing the shoe to the other end of the bar when the device is used as a wire stretcher.

2. A combined wire stretcher and lifting jack including a screw, an anchoring sleeve secured to one end of the screw and having a rounded portion, a nut engaging the screw, acarrier slidable on the screw and having a lifting head and actuated by the nut, means mounted on the carrier for connecting the same with a wire or other part to be stretched, a shoe, and means for pivotally connecting the shoe with the rounded portion of the anchoring sleeve to form a support for the screw when the device is-used as a lifting jack and for securing the shoe to the other end of the screw when the device is used as a wire stretcher.

3. A combined wire stretcher and lifting jack including a screw provided at one end with a straight edge, an anchoring sleeve secured to the other end of the screw and having a rounded portion, a nut engaging the screw, a carrier provided with a lifting head and slidable along the screw and connected with and actuated by the nut, means mounted on the carrier for connecting the same with a wire or other part to be stretched,

4. A combined wire stretcher and lifting jack including a longitudinal bar, a carrier movable thereon and provided with a laterally projecting lifting head, means for moving the carrier along the bar, a shoe, means for securing the shoe at one end of the bar when the device is used as a lifting jack and at the other end of the bar when employed as a wire stretcher, and means mounted on the carrier and the shoe for connecting the same with a wire or other part to be stretched. i

5'. A combined wire stretcher and lifting jack including a longitudinal bar, an anchoring sleeve secured to one end of the bar, a carrier mounted on the bar and provided with a laterally projecting lifting head,

means for moving the carrier along the bar,

a shoe, means for pivotally connecting the shoe with the anchoring sleeve when the device is .used as a lifting jack and for.securing the shoe to the other end of the bar when the device is employed as a wire stretcher, and means mounted on the carrier for connecting the same with a wire or other part.

to be stretched.

6; A combined wire stretcher and lifting jack including a screw, a nut engaging the screw, a carrier provided with a lifting head and movable along the screw and actuated by the nut, chain engaging means mounted on the carrier, a transverse shoe extending from opposite sides of the screw and provided at one end portion with spaced side walls and, having a transverse connecting wall at the inner ends of the same to form an opensocket or recess to receive the screw,

said shoe being also provided between the side. walls with a chain opening, and means mounted on the shoe for engaging a chain.

7. A combined wire stretcher and lifting jack including a longitudinal bar, a carrier mounted thereon and having a laterally projecting lifting head, means for moving thecarrier' along the bar, chain engaging means means also mounted on'the carrier and located beyond the chain engaging means, a transverse shoe extending from opposite sides of the bar and provided at one side thereof with chain guiding and engaging means and at the oppositeside with wire engaging means, the chain engaging and guiding means and the wire engaging means of the shoe being located at different distances from the bar, and the shoe being reversible to arrange either of the said means in line with the corresponding means of the carrier,

and means for securing the shoe to one end R. C. HoLLINGs, Geo. W. SHIVELY.

40 mounted on the carrier, wire engaging 

